22 INDIANOLA 
hook. The largest ones seemed fond of lying near the 
surface of the water, which enabled us to shoot them — 
with a rifle. They proved excellent eating. 
The vegetation presents more interesting features — 
as we proceed inland,—the river bottoms are well — 
wooded with oaks, pecan, and huck-berry,—and the — 
minor plants are more numerous.’ The peach and fig — 
flourish well in the gardens near Victoria; but the sea _ 
son is so dry, that we have no vegetables except pump- 
kins,—even potatoes have disappeared. 
In our walk Mr. Thurber gathered many plants; 
we also found the first appearance of rock that we had 
seen in Texas, near the banks of the stream. Near by — 
was a Mexican ranch, which was then an object of — 
curiosity, being the first of the kind we had met with. 
It was built of sticks set upright, the interstices filled — 
in with mud. The floor was of the same material. — 
_ The house contained but a single apartment, which was — 
occupied by a Mexican, his wife, and several children. 
The pigs were rooting near the door. Several fowls’ 
were perched upon projecting sticks, or nestling 0D 
the beds; and we had ocular proof that they some 
times deposited their eggs there. Bought out the 
entire stock of eggs, and all the milk that could be — 
spared 
beneath the branches of a large tree, where we were 
sufficiently protected from the sun’s rays. The chaptet 
* | 
a 
e 
September 15th, Sunday. Thermometer at 101°. 
Announced that I would read the church service at 9 a 
o'clock, and invited all to attend. It wasa source of — 
gratification to find that the whole camp were present | 
save the two men on guard. ‘The service took place 
